Table flatware



June 3, 1941.

M. C. VONDERHEID TABLE FLATWARE 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed June 22, 1940 R 0 To m2 E o M V June 3,' 1941. M. c. -VONDERHEID TABLE FLATWARE Filed June 22, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 0/v l )/0ERHE/0 Patented June 3, 1941 2,244,599 TABLE FLATWARE Marion 0. Vonderheid, Long Lake, Wis., assignor to International Silver Company, Meriden, Conn, a corporation of New Jersey Application June 22, 1940, Serial No. 341,879

I 3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in table flatware comprising knives, forks and spoons.

In conventional flatware of any particular pattern the handles of the pieces of a set all embody the same design and each is a symmetrical or free-balanced individual piece. Such structure design of conventional flatware affords no assistance or direction in the proper positioning of the pieces on the table with respect to the diner, and accordingly the positioning in accordance with accepted custom requires specific information and knowledge on the part of the user as to what is the custom.

One object of the invention is the combination of table flatware pieces each of which embodies a design which carries its own indication anddirection as to whether the piece shall be placed at the right of the service plate (or diner) or at the left. To this end and in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, I have devised novel and improved table flatware in which all pieces embody a common asymmetrical design with the pieces customarily placed at the right of the plate having the design or part thereof reversed with respect to the design on the other pieces customarily placed at the left of the plate. By design I mean either configuration or ornamentation, or both. With a set of tableware embodying this invention, a novice in the art of proper table setting, such as a child or untrained servant, may be easily shown the proper position of the individual pieces by means of the configuration or surface ornamentation, or both, and would immediately perceive an error in the positioning of any piece if it were placed at the wrong side of the plate.

A further object of the invention is a table flatware design, which when properly set on the table presents a balanced or symmetrical ensemble effect notwithstanding the asymmetrical efi'ect of an individual piece, that is, with the group of pieces on the right of the plate balancing those on the left of the plate. To this end and as another embodiment of the invention, the design embodies one or more curved lines which swing or curve from the outside toward the plate, that is, from right to left for pieces on the right of the plate and from left to right for pieces on the left of the plate. Thus the curved lines of the design whether they are configurations, outlines, flutes, planes or ornamentations, or a combination of any of these features, swing toward and harmonize with the circumference or perimeter of the dinner plate.

Thus, while each of the pieces of flatware embodies a common design the design is reversed for'the pieces on opposite sides of the plate so the concave sides, for example, of the curved design lines of the opposite right and left hand pieces face each other.

In a set designed and constructed in accordance with the present invention all pieces when properly positioned have their respective curved lines, whether of configuration or surface ornamentation, or both, swinging inwardly toward the plate. When properly positioned a complete place setting embodying the invention presents a balanced or symmetrical ensemble as distinguished from a place setting composed of symmetrical or free-balanced similar individual pieces.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application wherein- Fig. 1 illustrates a table setting of flatware embodying the invention in one of its forms, and

Fig. 2 is a view showing another embodiment.

Referring to Fig. l, I have shown one embodiment of my invention in table flatware comprising a fork l, asalad fork 2, a knife 3, and a spoon 4,' being properly set with respect to a plate A. That is the knife 3 and spoon 4 are positioned on the right of the plate while the fork l and salad fork 2 are positioned on the left of the plate, that is at the left of the diner. The pieces shown are those of a luncheon set. A complete dinner set would include a fish fork at the left of the fork I and a fish knife between the knife 3 and the spoon 4. In the embodiment shown the invention is primarily found in the inwardly curving edge 5 of the outer end of each piece, so the outline of each piece swings toward the plate. That is, this curving 5 of the forks I and 2 swings from left to right and thereby indicates these pieces should be at the left, while the corresponding. curvature of the knife and spoon swings from right to left and thereby indicates these pieces should be at the right. The edge of the dining table is indicated by the letter B.

In this particular embodiment, the handle of each piece also carries an ornamentation in the form of fluting 1, 8 and 9 which is likewise curved to supplement or enhance the effect primarily presented by the curved ends 5. It is to be understood, however, that a diiferent form of ornamentation may be embodied or all ornamentation omitted and that the configuration or outline alone may be relied upon for indicating the proper positioning.

In Fig. 1, the inward flow or curvature of the several pieces toward the periphery of the plate may, if desired, be further emphasized by slightly curving the lateral edge 6.

In Fig. 2 the pieces of flatware are of a conventional symmetrical shape, configuration or outline and the surface ornamentation of the handles of the pieces here embodies the invention and is relied upon to indicate to the user the right or left position with respect to the diner and to present the balanced or symmetrical ensemble effect with respect to the plate. The particular form of ornamentation shown may be termed stylized fern leaf with fluting, the fern leaf being indicated at l and the fluting at H. Similarly to the configuration lines of the embodiment of Fig. 1 the lines of the fern leaf N) and the fiuting l l of the surface ornamentation swing in and curve toward the circumference or perimeter of the plate and thus serve as indicia for indicating the side upon which the pieces must be positioned, the design ornamentation of the pieces'on opposite sides of the plate being reversed With respect to each other. Here as in the embodiment of Fig. 1 the reversed designs with the lines thereof swinging or curving inwardly toward the plate present a symmetrical or balanced ensemble effect. In Fig. 2 I have shown for convenience in illustration only two pieces of a set, namely, the spoon on the right and the fork on the left of the plate, but it is understood that the other pieces of a complete setting, which are here omitted, will embody the same features of the invention.

With the flatware thus constructed and designed, if the user should by chance improperly place apiece the error would appear instantly because its design or part thereof would be reversed with respect to that of the other pieces with which it was placed.

The invention is illustrated as embodied in fiatware designed for the current customary setting in which the handles of the pieces are toward the user with the knives and spoons to the right of. the plate and the forks to the left of the plate and further with the fork tines and spoon bowl edges directed upwardly and the knife edge toward the plate, but it is understood that the invention may be incorporated in tableware designed for a different setting.

I am aware that asymmetrical designs in individual pieces of flatware are not new. but my invention resides in providing table flatware with asymmetrical designs generally of the above indicated character and with the designs reversed for the pieces to be positioned on the opposite sides of the plate so as to serve as indicia for indicating the proper position of each piece and to present a symmetrical or balanced ensemble effect with respect to the plate.

As indicated above, the embodiments of, the invention shown herein are for the purpose of illustration only and it is understood that except as may be specified and limited in the claims hereto attached such claims are not to be limited by construction to the specific design and constructional features illustrated. The phrase "face up as employed in the claims is that side of the flat piece which is uppermost for the particular setting in use.

I claim:

1. The combination of at least two table fiatware pieces used in the setting of a table, each piece having a handle portion and the handle portions embodying a common asymmetrical design, said design being visible with the flatware pieces placed face-up on the table, at least one of said pieces having its asymmetrical design the reverse of the asymmetrical design for another of said pieces, whereby the pieces are adapted to indicate right and left positions for said pieces with respect to the user, and the two pieces ,providing a composite and symmetrical whole when positioned.

2. The combination of table flatware pieces for use with a plate in the setting of a table, said piecesincluding a group of right hand pieces comprising a knife and spoon and a group of left hand pieces comprising a fork and a salad fork, the handle portions of said pieces embodying a common asymmetrical design having curved lines, the curved lines of one group being the reverse of the curves of the other group, said curved lines swinging oppositely with the right hand pieces positioned face up and to the right of the plate and the left hand pieces positioned face up and to the left of the plate and with the handles toward the user and the fork tines and spoon bowl edges directed upwardly and the knife edge towards the left, at least certain of said curved lines of the knife and spoon group when so positioned swinging from the right to the left and at least certain of said curved lines of the fork group when so positioned swinging from the left to the right, wherebythe pieces are adapted to indicate right and left positions for said pieces with respect to the plate, and the two groups provide a composite and symmetrical whole when positioned.

3. The combination of table flatware pieces having handles embodying a common asymmetrical design wherein the asymmetry of pieces intended for placement at one side of a plate is reversed with respect to the asymmetry of pieces intended for placement at the other side of the plate when the pieces are placed face up, whereby the pieces are adapted to indicate right and left positions with respect to the plate and to provide a composite and symmetrical whole when positioned.

MARION C VONDERHEID. 

